Mother’s Day: Honoring Our Mothers as a Sacred Pathway to God’s Blessing
Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, though the date may vary depending on country and tradition. In the United States, Canada, Australia, and even Myanmar, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May. While many see it as a modern holiday, the practice of honoring mothers goes back much further—rooted not in social custom alone, but in God’s Word.
The Origin of Mother’s Day
The modern celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States began through the efforts of a Christian woman named Anna Jarvis. In 1908, she organized a service in memory of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her mother had served faithfully as a caregiver during the Civil War, offering support and compassion to many. Although the U.S. Congress initially rejected the idea of a national holiday, Anna persisted in her campaign until President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914, establishing Mother’s Day as a national holiday on the second Sunday in May (Antolini, Memorializing Motherhood: Anna Jarvis and the Struggle for Control of Mother's Day.).
Yet, long before governments recognized mothers with a holiday, the Bible had already instructed us to honor our father and mother. That commandment is not cultural or situational—it is universal and timeless.
The Biblical Call to Honor
The command to “honor your father and your mother” appears in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12), and it is the only commandment that includes a promise: “that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Paul emphasizes this in the New Testament as well, calling it “the first commandment with a promise” (Ephesians 6:2–3).
To “honor” in the biblical sense includes respect, admiration, and obedience. It is more than good manners. It means to value someone in your heart and to express that value through your words, actions, and decisions. It is a way of showing reverence for the role God has given them in your life. Honoring our parents, especially our mothers, is not only a command—it is a secret pathway to God’s blessing.
No one has ever regretted honoring their mother. But many who ignored or dishonored their parents live with deep pain. This is not only a spiritual principle for believers, but a form of general grace that benefits all people. Even those who are not Christians experience God’s favor when they choose to honor their parents, because this law is woven into the very fabric of human life (Tennent, 224–26).
Mother and Father: One Flesh, One Honor
When we speak of honoring mothers, we must also speak of fathers. According to the Bible, after marriage, a husband and wife become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Honoring your mother means honoring both parents, for they are united by God in purpose and identity. Proverbs tells us, “Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching” (Proverbs 1:8). The instruction of the father and the teaching of the mother are meant to shape a child together.
Our culture often separates the roles of mother and father too strictly. But Scripture reminds us that both are essential, and both are worthy of honor. To honor one is to affirm the unity and calling of both.
A Chin Christian Reflection
As a Chin Christian immigrant living in the United States, I must humbly acknowledge a painful truth. Compared to other groups in Myanmar, many of us have fallen short in the practice of honoring our parents. Some of this is due to the pressures of immigration, the influence of Western individualism, or simply the generational gap. Yet whatever the reason, we must not forget our biblical calling.
God’s Word does not change based on geography or social situation. Honoring our mothers is not an optional cultural value—it is a divine command with real consequences. If we want to see healing in our families, blessing in our churches, and hope for our children, we must return to the sacred practice of honoring our parents.
This honor is not only expressed through money or gifts. It is shown in how we speak to them, how we listen, how we obey, and how we remember them in prayer and presence. Love given while they are still alive is more valuable than tears shed at their funeral.
A Final Word of Blessing
Today, we honor all the women who have given of themselves for the good of their families, churches, and communities. Some of you are mothers in the biological sense, and some of you have mothered many in spirit. Your sacrifice is seen by God, and your legacy is treasured by those you’ve shaped.
May the Lord give you strength, peace, and joy. May you continue to be a blessing to your family, your church, and your nation. And may we, as your sons and daughters, honor you—not just today, but every day, as an act of worship and obedience to our heavenly Father.
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:28).
Bibliography
Antolini, Katharine Lane. Memorializing Motherhood: Anna Jarvis and the Struggle for Control of Mother's Day. Morgantown: West Virginia University Press, 2014.
Tennent, Timothy C. Foundations of the Christian Faith: A Resource for Discipleship and Renewal. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2021.
Comments
Post a Comment